Who Cares About the Rock Hall?

A podcast about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hosted by comedians Joe Kwaczala and Kristen Studard. He's a long-time devotee. She's a skeptic. Join them as he attempts to get her (and their guests) to care about this institution. Proud part of Pantheon - the podcast network for music lovers.

Music History
Music Commentary
Music Interviews
276
2019 Nominee Announcement! (For Real!) w/ Joey ...
Joe makes Kristen meet up at the crack of 5am, so he can reveal the nominees (as they become available) for the Rock Hall Class of 2019. Former guest Joey Devine opens his doors and lends some equipment (and commentary) to make this wild-ass episode happen. Emotions run high, and Kristen yawns a bunch.
40 min
277
2019 Nominee Announcement! (Not Really...)
The long-awaited nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2019 are here. Or are they?
31 min
278
2019 Nominee Draft w/ Greg Behrendt & Joey Devine
Comedians (and podcasters) Greg Behrendt and Joey Devine return to the show to join Joe and Kristen for the inaugural "Who Cares" Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominee Draft! The group takes turns picking eligible artists that they believe will be among the list of nominees for the Class of 2019.
76 min
279
Seymour Stein, Andy Paley, and Bob Merlis
In this very special episode, Joe & Kristen are joined by former Nominating Committee members Andy Paley & Bob Merlis, alongside current member and INDUCTEE, the legendary Seymour Stein. Much is discussed (and sung!) in this super-sized episode featuring these very knowledgeable guests.
105 min
280
The Previously Nominated w/ Joe McAdam
Comedian/writer Joe McAdam joins Joe & Kristen to chat about ALL the artists who have been nominated but not inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It's another chapter in our on-going special coverage, leading up to the nominee announcement!
74 min
281
First Year Eligibles of 2019
As we approach the nominee announcement for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2019, Joe & Kristen review the significant (and not so significant) artists who are in their first year of eligibility.
50 min
282
Sublime w/ Cullen Crawford
Writer Cullen Crawford (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) joins Joe & Kristen to express his complicated love for Sublime, as they evaluate their potential for Rock Hall induction. Also discussed are Joe and Kristen's Rock Hall dreams/nightmares, as well as Bill Wyman's ranking of inductees for Vulture. And perhaps most thrilling of all? A statement is read... from a shadowy informant!
82 min
283
Warren Zevon w/ James Fritz
Stand-up comedian James Fritz joins Joe & Kristen to discuss Warren Zevon's potential as a Rock Hall inductee. Also discussed is Randy Newman's recent concert at the Hollywood Bowl, and we revisit the ballot from the year 2000. It's a new streamlined version of the podcast! It's a little shorter! There's theme music! Wow!
80 min
284
Special Announcement!
No new episode this week, but Joe & Kristen have a fun announcement. Also included is something special from the archives!
12 min
285
Indigo Girls w/ Emily Heller
Comedian/writer Emily Heller (Barry, People of Earth) comes by the podcast to let Joe & Kristen know why she thinks the Indigo Girls belong in the Hall. Also discussed is the changing attitudes towards selling out, Phil Collins vs. Peter Gabriel, and Tig Notaro's most recent stand-up special.
105 min
286
Harry Nilsson w/ Megan Koester
Comedian and writer Megan Koester joins Joe & Kristen to talk about the surprising Rock Hall snub Harry Nilsson. She also provides some information on her correspondence with actor Curtis Armstrong, who is perhaps the most thorough Nilsson archivist. Additional topics in this episode include Megan's distaste for The Beatles, Joe's exhaustive list of Rock Hall snubs, and... The Spaghetti Incident?
100 min
287
Taylor Swift w/ Ellie McElvain
Stand-up and writer Ellie McElvain joins Joe & Kristen to rep hard for Taylor Swift and her potential Rock Hall future in this pop-heavy episode. Also discussed are Rolling Stone's list of "The New Immortals" as well as choreographed middle school dance routines.
117 min
288
They Might Be Giants w/ Joey Devine
Comedian and podcaster Joey Devine (Roundball Rock podcast) comes by to talk about the divisive They Might Be Giants with Joe & Kristen. Also discussed is Joey's run-in with Seymour Stein, a potential Eagles Broadway musical, and good rock books/documentaries.
100 min
289
Pat Benatar w/ Karen Kilgariff
Comedian & musician Karen Kilgariff (My Favorite Murder podcast) joins Joe & Kristen to evaluate the Hall prospects of a much-discussed artist: Pat Benatar! Also discussed are rock & roll murders, snubbed female musicians, and something called the "Ooh Ooh Song."
104 min
290
Radiohead w/ Demi Adejuyigbe
Comedian/writer/podcaster Demi Adejuyigbe (The Good Place, Punch Up the Jam) comes by to talk the criminally-snubbed Radiohead with Joe & Kristen. Also discussed is potential future first-year-eligible inductees, as well as Kristen's mom's visit to the museum Cleveland.
109 min
291
Lesley Gore w/ Bob Merlis
Former Nominating Committee member Bob Merlis comes by the studio to tell Joe & Kristen about his experiences with the Hall. Lots of fun insights and stories, as Bob was on the NomCom for 23 years and has been in the industry working in publicity for even longer. They also evaluate Lesley Gore's potential as a future inductee and hatch a plan to expedite the process.
102 min
292
Iron Maiden w/ Jimmy Pardo
Comedian and fellow podcaster Jimmy Pardo (Never Not Funny, Conan) joins Joe & Kristen to talk the merits of Iron Maiden in this super-sized episode. Also discussed is Jimmy's trip to the 2016 induction, as well as Jimmy Buffett's Hall prospects.
109 min
293
BONUS EPISODE - A Defense of The Moody Blues
In this very first bonus episode, Joe tries to make a case for The Moody Blues' induction, so that Kristen can stop being so mad about it.
36 min
294
Roxy Music w/ Roy Trakin
Former Nominating Committee member Roy Trakin joins Joe & Kristen to talk about his history with the Hall, as well as the merits of Roxy Music. Roy has had a long career as a rock journalist and gives some insight as to what goes down when the Hall is determining its annual nominees. This is truly... A Very Special Episode. 
92 min
295
Whitney Houston w/ Carl Tart
The hilarious Carl Tart (Comedy Bang! Bang!) joins Joe & Kristen to talk about one of the hall's biggest snubs: Whitney Houston. Other divas (who are in and not in the Hall) are discussed, like Donna Summer, Tina Turner, and Chaka Khan. Also, they attempt to play some games, and the results are... mixed!
101 min
296
Liz Phair w/ Emma Koenig
Emma Koenig, author of the new book MOAN, swings by the studio to talk to Joe & Kristen about alt-rock goddess Liz Phair. They also go through some of Vulture writer Bill Wyman's ranking of all the Rock Hall inductees. And the gang plays a game at the end! Wow.
98 min
297
Foo Fighters w/ Allie Goertz
Musician/writer Allie Goertz joins Joe & Kristen to talk about Foo Fighters. Also discussed is Allie's father's 80s cover band (Knyght Ryder) as well as Jeff Lynne's ELO and if any women like The Who. Almost nothing rude is said about The Moody Blues. Almost.
95 min
298
Toto w/ Scott Gairdner
Joe & Kristen welcome the very funny writer/director Scott Gairdner (Conan, Moonbeam City) to talk about studio musician supergroup and '80s hitmakers Toto. The Hall's stance on country music is discussed, as well as its consistent snubbing of some of music's greatest divas. Do they also somehow manage to shit on The Moody Blues in this one? Yes.
97 min
299
2018 Induction Ceremony w/ Jamison Webb
Joe & Kristen welcome comedian/actor Jamison Webb (The Second City) to talk about the Hall. Like Joe, Jamison is actually invested in this institution and has been for a while! This upsets Kristen. The bulk of this episode is dedicated to recapping and reviewing the HBO broadcast of the 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, featuring inductees The Cars, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Dire Straits, Nina Simone, The Moody Blues, and Bon Jovi.
97 min
300
The Prodigy w/ Anna Seregina
Comedian Anna Seregina joins Joe & Kristen on the podcast this week. Much of the episode is spent recapping Joe's attempts to get into the 2017 induction ceremony. Also, the '90s techno, big-beat group The Prodigy is evaluated in terms of their rock hall worthiness. Damn, Daniel.
85 min